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The Forum > Article Comments > Irresponsible happenings: Juukan Gorge, Rio Tinto and the Never Again Report > Comments

Irresponsible happenings: Juukan Gorge, Rio Tinto and the Never Again Report : Comments

By Binoy Kampmark, published 14/12/2020

While section 17 of the current Act makes the destruction, damage or altering to an Aboriginal site a criminal offence, Section 18 provides a route of dispensation for the aspiring cultural vandal.

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More querulous talk about " sacred sites" and the assumed or invented religiosity of anything Aboriginal. At a time when Christianity is being called irrelevant and outmoded, we are now constantly beaten around the head with Aboriginal mythology touted as 'religion', and unelected, minority activists are telling us where we can and cannot go in our own country, and what we can and cannot do in it. There is a childish 'you took our land so we'll take yours' attitude, which totally overlooks the fact that that land is being used for the benefit of all Australians; that includes all the welfare and sit-down money going to the activists. Giving credence to childish, made up stories is, well, childish.

But the underlying reason for this totally unreal activity is not really about religion - that's just a cover story - but about power, control and money. This is what people IDENTIFYING as aboriginal are after.
Posted by ttbn, Monday, 14 December 2020 9:16:12 AM
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Native title is an impediment to progress. There are huge conflicts of interest.

What I’ve observed in reality is, Land Councils are dominated by the ambitious, and are equally hugely nepotistic, with a definite view of taking what they can, and building the excuse for the taking, while “negotiations” are protracted to achieve maximum outcomes.

There is zil to nil credibility to this.

Then along comes a serious and legitimate reason to halt progress, such as this one.

Little boy cries wolf definitely fits with this abysmal destruction of a highly legitimate cultural site, in the middle of nowhere.

Dan
Posted by diver dan, Monday, 14 December 2020 9:16:53 AM
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The management and employees of mining companies along with anybody who supports them are low-life scumbags.

Neither I nor anyone on my level would do them the honour of pissing on them if they were on fire.
Posted by Mr Opinion, Monday, 14 December 2020 10:46:18 AM
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No doubt, RIO were wrong to blast so close to the caves BUT:
1. the traditional landowners gave their approval
2. the blasting did little or no damage to the archaeological site within the caves
3.the caves can, at least in part, be reinstated at significant cost to RIO and potentially risking significant damage to the archaeological material within the caves.
The whole issue is a significant beat-up, with RIO being seen as an easy target and the company unwilling to defend itself.
Posted by Bernie Masters, Monday, 14 December 2020 10:46:27 AM
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Bernie Masters,

Do you have a background in archaeology, anthropology, etc?
Posted by Mr Opinion, Monday, 14 December 2020 11:01:19 AM
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So Bernie Masters comments confirm my experience, exposing a similar example of, in this case, the truth suppressed to extract maximum benefit from a lie, for a select few!

Where is the credibility to this?

There sure needs to be an inquiry, but not for the reasons stated by our author!

Dan
Posted by diver dan, Monday, 14 December 2020 11:06:59 AM
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A criminal offence? And we know who did it? so charge somebody! And ensure the punishment fits the crime. Can't keep on looking the other way, because those doing the crime are rich and powerful!
Alan B.
Posted by Alan B., Monday, 14 December 2020 11:22:39 AM
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Oh god!

Because some stone age intinerates left some stuff on a cave wall 5, 10, 20 or more thousands of years ago, we are supposed to walk around it for eternity.

Lets hope we do a decent job of covering up our presence here today, or future generations will have no where to live.
Posted by Hasbeen, Monday, 14 December 2020 4:35:05 PM
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Hasbeen,

I'm sure most people on The Forum agree with you.

But not me. I'm highly educated which sets me apart from people like you.
Posted by Mr Opinion, Monday, 14 December 2020 4:38:37 PM
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Hasbeen:

That would be the most ill-thought out post of the decade.

So let’s extrapolate out your theory.

So on your premis that history has no value, it’s ok then for ISIS terrorists to arrive at museums in Iraq and other similar places, and destroy artefacts thousands of years old and applicable to western civilisation?

Would the sacred sites be more acceptable, if they were said to be ancient sites of previous civilisations? Because that is the sensible way to look at it!

Dan
Posted by diver dan, Monday, 14 December 2020 8:50:45 PM
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diver dan,

You need to keep in mind that Hasbeen is an ignorant bogan who does not know how the world of humankind works because he has never studied anything outside of vocational courses and cannot grasp the concept that history matters because we need it to explain the present by recourse to the past.

This is the reason we need people to study the Arts things like history, sociology, archaeology, anthropology, philosophy, etc. so that we can work out how the human world works and hopefully take steps to make it better.

If we just send people off to do vocational studies like engineering, law, architecture, medicine, accountancy, etc. we will end up with a society of dummies who are basically uneducated bogans like Hasbeen.
Posted by Mr Opinion, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 5:45:56 AM
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I go with Bernie Masters but Rio Tinto should not disregard such ancient sites. The company's decision makers who approved the vandalism should have to pay for Archaeological works in Australia for the next 25 years to the tune of a million a year out of their own pockets.
Posted by individual, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 9:43:34 AM
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Mr opinion.

There a multiple reasons for opinions based on limited facts.
But there is another factor which drives ignorance. It’s called too comfortable!
I see the comfort zone highlighted on this site too often.
I think it’s the rot that sinks conservatism.

I agree with your assessment of a continuing need for the study of humanity subjects, but again there is another dangerous factor to this.
The cat is long gone from the bag, and universities need to rid themselves of ideological brainwashing of students, and stitck with their core value and responsibility; IE education.

And finally, this topic re article, is an opportune time to raise the spectre of vested interests and negative outcomes.
It’s a good example of why the Aboriginals bureaucracy can’t be trusted with the safe keeping of ancient sites applicable to a broader human civilisation.

The way it stands now with a trademark stamp of “sacred” has lost its credibility!

Cheers Dan
Posted by diver dan, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 9:54:51 AM
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diver dan,

I notice you didn't disagree with me that Hasbeen is an ignorant bogan.
Posted by Mr Opinion, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 12:53:23 PM
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Onya ttbn.

What you wrote I could not improve upon.
Posted by LEGO, Wednesday, 16 December 2020 7:56:11 AM
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